Hypothalamic thermosensitivity in mammals.

Hypothalamic thermosensitivities of 21 species of mammals ranging in body size from 15 g to 34 Kg are surveyed. It is concluded that hypothalamic thermosensitivity as measured by the proportionality constant relating rate of metabolic heat production to hypothalamic temperature at a thermoneutral ambient temperature is inversely related to body size according to the relationship alphaMHP = -1.46 Wt-.37.